And Mollie blushed "celestial, rosy red."
"What comes next?" she asked. "After breakfast--what then?"
"That is for Mistress Mollie to decide."
"I am not to go home until this evening?"
"Not if you wish to give unlucky Oleander his _coup de gr?ce_. Poor
devil! I pity him, too. If you intend to make your _entree_ like the
ghost of Banquo at the feast, you can't appear, of course, until
evening."
"Must I stay here all day?"
"Will it be so very hard?" with an eloquent glance. "I shall be here."
"No, no!" Mollie said, hastily, blushing and laughing. "It would be
light penance, in any case; to spend a day here, after a fortnight down
yonder. What I mean is, I might improve the time by going to see Miriam."
"If you wait, Miriam may improve the time by coming to see you."
"No! What does she know about your studio?"
"Heaps!" said Mr. Ingelow, coolly. "It isn't the first time ladies have
come to my studio."
"I know; but Miriam--"
"It isn't the first time for Miriam, either."
Mollie opened wide her eyes.
"I protest, Mr. Ingelow, I didn't know you were acquainted with her at
all.
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